Pens embarrassed by Panthers 6-0 (7-Feb-2003)
The Pens lose big, 6-0, to Florida in front of 12,239 at Mellon Arena. Things got out of hand with a melee breaking out at the midpoint of the third period and then Mario Lemieux got tossed from the game for fighting with just over 5 minutes to go. Lemieux had been harrassed by Brad Ference throughout the game and decided to take things into his own hands. After the game, Lemieux told reporters the team would lose money this year and that he needed "the support of the corporate community and the fans, and if it's not there, I've got to protect my interest."